Wkly Bible Study for Dial-Up/Broadband, August 26, 2013

Why the Word of God has never failed, and will never fail.

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Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).

1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to have faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life:

John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]

Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: "¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. ¹⁸ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Grace Bible Church
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries

The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings

STUDY TITLE:

Why the Word of God has never failed, and will never fail.



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Terms & Abbreviations used:

PPOG = Predesigned Plan of God
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth

To look up other “terms”, go to:

Alphabetical Listing

BEGIN BIBLE STUDY
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes and references
are from the NASB – New American Standard Bible

We have been noting that in spite of the Jews rejection of their spiritual heritage in ROM 9:4-5, God kept His word. This is because Jesus Christ, who is God in ROM 9:5, controls human history. Jesus Christ controls history in spite of what seems to be happening around you personally, nationally, internationally and historically. We must remember this as we make a Biblical interpretation of history. This is why Peter said in 2PE 3:3-6, Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice [they deliberately ignore the fact] that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

It was God's word that brought the earth back from the chaos that was caused by the flood that destroyed the world.

2PE 3:7-11, But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief [this is not the Rapture, this is not the second coming, this is REV 21:1, the time of a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth passed away] in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed or dissolved with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way [the earth and its works], what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct or a dedicated to God life-style and living the spiritual life.

2PE 3:12-14 goes on to say, looking forward with confidence and hastening of the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise [of living in the eternal state] we are looking forward with confidence for new heavens and a new earth, in which perfect righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since we are looking forward with confidence for these things [living the spiritual life in time], be diligent [self-motivated] to be found by Him in peace [a state of inner peace, and tranquility of soul], spotless [execution of the spiritual life with capacity] and blameless [the result of fulfillment of the spiritual life].

If we look at life as it is laid out before us and dealt out to us without seeing it through the Biblical interpretation of history (the fact that Jesus Christ controls history), we will not understand why certain things happen.

2PE 3:14-18, "Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation or really deliverance; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." Here is the ability to use the doctrine in your soul to see the Biblical interpretation of history.

If you want to plan for the future, than live for the future. Don't be inconsistent like so many people are. If you want to plan for the future, then you should plan for eternity, because eternity is what the future is all about. We can live for eternity because the Word of God has never failed and never will fail. We noted ten points regarding this subject.

Point 1. The continuation of the universe, all of its creatures, and the state of the atmosphere depends on one fact and one fact only, the essence of God, especially the omnipotence and immutability of Jesus Christ.

COL 1:15-17, And He [The Lord Jesus Christ] is the [exact] image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

HEB 1:3 He upholds all things by the word of His power.

So, the reason why the word of God has never failed and never will fail is because He upholds all things by the word of His power. That means that the continuation of the universe, of the angels, the human race, depend upon The Lord Jesus Christ. That includes every evil member of the human race; they are all here courtesy of the grace of God. They only exist because of the grace of God, and the fact that free will does exist. That is why we should never live in fear (ROM 8:31; PSA 46:1-2).

Point 2. Jesus Christ controls history, not the so called scientific laws which are really Divine laws. It is not science that guarantees that the universe will be around tomorrow, it is The Lord Jesus Christ, only He can make that guarantee.

Point 3. These So-called scientific laws are based on the statistical assumption that the universe, which operates according to a fixed norm, will continue to do so. Science can observe certain laws, but cannot guarantee their continuance. What science is actually observing is the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who not only controls history, but also controls the universe. Because the universe operates according to certain norms and standards, science merely assumes that these norms and standards will continue. However, while science observes these laws, science cannot guarantee them 2PE 3:1-12 ).

Point 4. The Universe with its matter, energy, and operating laws of God will not always exist as it does at the present time (2PE 3:10-12; REV 21:1).

Point 5. Known scientific laws and phenomena, which man has been able to observe, classify, recognize and interpret, depend entirely upon the Faithfulness of God. Every discovery of the pattern of the universe is a treatise on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, who at the present time is guaranteeing the function of every bona fide scientific law (COL 1:17; HEB 13:8). Therefore, known scientific laws depend entirely on the essence of God, especially the omnipotence plus immutability.

Point 6. It Is by the Word of God which has never failed and will never fail that Jesus Christ holds the universe together (HEB 13:8).

You must remember this every time you go through something in your life. He's there! He's in control! He's in charge! MAT 28:20 "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

HEB 13:5 "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,"

Point 7. Why The Lord Jesus Christ is holding the universe together.

a. Jesus Christ is holding the universe together to resolve the angelic conflict in human history and to bring many sons into glory (HEB 2:10).

b. The Lord Jesus Christ is holding the universe together in order to allow grace, which began with the Holy Spirit radiating heat over the ice pack, to run its full course until He destroys the universe by nuclear fission at the end of history.

So man has been able to categorize and classify certain things so that he can apply and utilize these scientific laws. Occasionally these laws have been overruled by the sovereignty of God. For example, the day the sun stood still for Joshua in battle (JOS 10:13-14). The universe will be destroyed someday, but the Word of God will survive the destruction of the universe, as will the believer in resurrection body (HEB 12:26-29).

Point 8. So called scientific laws belong to The Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the One Who sustains the universe.

They demonstrate His faithfulness and His perfect character. These laws can be changed or over ruled by the sovereignty of God as illustrated in (2PE 3:10-12. However, though the universe will change, the Bible will not. You have more stability in the Bible than you have in the universe (1PE 1:23-25; MAT 24:35). The universe is going to change but the Bible will not.

Point 9. So called scientific laws are simply the Faithfulness of Jesus Christ holding the universe together, and at the same time holding back eternity.

This is so the human race will have the opportunity to appropriate the grace of God, and so that ultimately God will be glorified forever.

Point 10. This Doctrine explains the simplicity of miracle working for The Lord Jesus Christ. A miracle is an event that contradicts known scientific laws and is thought to be due to supernatural causes, especially an act of God. The Lord merely stops a scientific law from working and something out of the ordinary happens. For example in LUK 8:25 "He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?"

He controls the sea (JOB 26:10; PSA 33:7).

He controls the storms (PSA 65:7; PSA 107:29).

He controls the wind (PSA 148:8; MAR 4:39).

He controls the rain (GEN 7:4).

He controls the thunder and hail (EXO 9:33).

He tells the snow to come upon the earth (JOB 37:6).

He makes the lightning (JER 10:13).

He is in total control of even every insignificant detail in life.

With all of those principles in mind, what do you have to worry about? What do you have to fear? What do you have to complain about? What do you have to be jealous about? If you do have doubts, it may be because you have rejected the Word of God which has never failed and will never fail, and instead you have chosen to live in self-justification, self-deception, and self-absorption. Your mental attitude is so important because that's where you develop your motivation, and where you do most of your sinning. These mental attitude sins include arrogance, pride, jealousy, implacability, bitterness, vindictiveness, inordinate ambition and inordinate competition, all motivational sins, and sinful thoughts such as fear, guilt, worry, anger, judging, hatred, even murder. These are the sins that can destroy your life.

We need to understand the importance of Biblical interpretation of history. We begin with the fact that because our Lord Jesus Christ controls history, as a part of our Lord's Divine protection of man, He protects the human race from self-destruction. Man is a product of his own decisions. When man and his negative decisions are allowed to proceed to their logical conclusion, it is total destruction of the human race. Because of that fact, our Lord Jesus Christ intervenes at times with Divine judgment. These Divine judgments protect the human race from self-destruction while at the same time clean the human race from elements that would destroy it. This is why certain evil people, and evil nations, are periodically wiped out through war, famine or destruction. According to the Bible, war is a bona-fide part of history (ECC 3:8; NUM 21:14).

Therefore, because Jesus Christ controls history, no nation or race ever experiences a catastrophe unless He chooses, or allows for it to happen. That's why we should never question our Lord's decisions, and what He allows to take place in human history. As far as we are personally concerned as believers, the Bible is the key to historical interpretation. The Biblical interpretation of history must be related to God, the angelic conflict, the unseen world of angels and the visible world of mankind. Bible doctrine is the basis for correct interpretation of history. To see history objectively we must possess the Divine viewpoint obtained from doctrine. We must understand subjects like the angelic conflict, the First Advent, the Cross, the Second Advent, the doctrine of Dispensations, etc. If you can understand these things, you will discover God's will for your life and your place in human history. How many believers actually believe such passages as JOH 15:15 where our Lord said "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."

You have the privilege of having everything you need to know and understand made available to you. God has chosen you, and He has a will for your life and a place for you in history. You are to discover and recognize God's place for you, and to do so you must be able to correctly interpret history and events that have happened, are happening and will happen in your life. To correctly interpret history one must understand the Church-age, the Royal Family of God, the times of the Gentiles.

There are six basic principles that the Lord has established which guarantee that the human race will never self-destruct, and that mankind will live on this earth until the end of human history.

1) The division of languages after the tower of Babel. This was so the human race would not be confident in man or human power, or human ability. This is something that Satan wants with the new world order, the one world government.

GEN 11:6-9, And the Lord said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.

The division of languages is actually keeping the human race from arrogance and self-destruction. For there is power in numbers and we would become arrogant if we all worked together and tried to solve all the problems of the world. This answers the question where did the different languages come from? God in His grace is the One who created the different languages not the wisdom of man. Therefore, in understanding the biblical interpretation of history, we see the value of different languages and that is why it is the epitome of arrogance to think that one race is greater than another.

2) To protect the human race from self-destruction, the Lord has established Nationalism. God has divided the people of the earth into various countries (DEU 32:8; Acts 17:18-26). God is the one who gave nations and therefore, in the Biblical interpretation of history, we need to see the value of Nationalism not Internationalism and that's why organizations such as the United Nations are evil. Satan would love to have an organization somewhere in the world that had the ultimate say and ultimate power so that he could be there and control the world. In fact, he will do this with a certain religious organization in Rome (Rev 17-18). Right now he's trying to do it with organizations such as the United Nations. Nationalism is what causes people to seek God not Internationalism. In fact, even in the millennium, nationalism will exist Jesus Christ will rule nations.

3) The concept of client nations to God. Israel was a "holy" nation to God. DEU 7:6 "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth."

A client nation is a national entity under the patronage of God, assigned the responsibility for the preservation, communication, and fulfillment of the canon of Scripture.

There were five Jewish client nations in the Old Testament:

a. The theocratic kingdom, B.C. 1441-1020, from the Exodus until the prophet Samuel. The theocratic kingdom ended when the Jews wanted to be like other nations.

b. The United Kingdom, from Saul to Rehoboam, B.C. 1020-926.

c. The Northern Kingdom, from Jeroboam to Hoshea, B.C. 926-721. In 721 B.C. the fifth cycle of discipline was administered by the Assyrians under Sargon II.

d. The Southern Kingdom, from Rehoboam to Zedekiah, B.C. 926-586. The fifth cycle of discipline was administered by the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar.

e. After the Northern and Southern Kingdoms were destroyed, while no Jewish client nation was operational as such, Jews outside of the client nation filled in the gap to Gentile nations as they had been responsible before to do so. Then Judah became a client nation again from B.C. 516 until 70 A.D. No Gentile client nation exists in the Old Testament, only Jewish client nations.

It is negative volition to Bible doctrine that destroys a client nation. When periods of apostasy in Israel or any client nation grows enough, that client nation dies under the fifth cycle of discipline. In every case of Jewish apostasy in a Jewish client nation status both the clergy and the politicians of Israel are indicted along with the negative volition of the people. Bad decisions destroy freedom options and enslave the nation, so that the client nation status is destroyed from within in the first three cycles of discipline.

A very important principle is that a nation that is not prepared for war is not prepared for peace. Mankind always has been and always will be the product of their own volition, not their environment. The doctrine of man's sin nature and total depravity plus the function of Satan's cosmic system requires that people in a client nation periodically will have to make great sacrifices for freedom. Political solutions are useless without spiritual solutions. What makes political solutions great is the invisible hero-ship of a pivot of mature believers.

MAT 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty {again}? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.” You are here to be salt seasoning that brings out the God flavors of this earth.

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life:
Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.